Wests Tigers NYC Holden Cup side have gone down 28-22 to the Sydney Roosters in a tight contest from their Round 20 clash on Friday afternoon at ANZ Stadium.
Despite a close second half that saw just 10 points scored between the two sides, the match opened up in the second 40 with several great attacking plays from both sides, before the Roosters closed the match out better to emerge with a six-point win.
After a tight opening 10 minutes, it was the Roosters who opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Connor Watson backed up on the inside of a kick from Joseph Manu.
Paul Momirovski added the extras to give the visitors a 6-0 lead after 14 minutes.
After a couple of back-to-back penalties, Wests Tigers would hit back in the 26th minute when Esan Marsters finished off a wrap-around play with five-eighth Te Maire Martin.
Matt Woods’ conversion attempt hit the post, though, leaving the scoreline at 6-4.
Wests Tigers looked destined to take the lead just before half-time when Obed Karwhin went close in the corner, but the winger spilled the ball over the line.
The two teams would head to the half-time sheds at ANZ with the score still 6-4.
It didn’t take long for the score to change after the break, with the Roosters extending their lead in the 43rd minute when Joseph Manu dived over down the short side to be awarded a try, despite appearing to drop the ball in his efforts to plant it down.
Momirovski was unable to convert from out wide, though, leaving the score at 10-4.
A barnstorming run from prop Matthew Lodge would see the home side quickly pull back level in the 49th minute, and it wasn’t long before the hosts took the lead, with a great run from Bayley Sironen in the 51st minute setting up Jeremy Marshall-King.
Woods converted both tries to give Wests Tigers their first lead of the match, 16-10.
The lead didn’t last long for Brett Kimmorley’s side, with Shaquai Mitchell picking up a loose ball to burst through the line and level the match in the 53rd minute.
The Roosters would then regain the lead in the 60th minute when some deft handling from Latrell Mitchell found Manu out wide, who crossed for his second try in the corner.
Momirovski nailed the tough sideline conversion to push the Roosters’ lead to 22-16.
As the visitors continued to dominate possession and field position, Joey Lussick seemingly put the result beyond all doubt with a solo try from dummy half in the 67th minute, with Momirovski’s fourth conversion of the night taking their lead to 28-16.
Obed Karwhin would pull back one consolation try for the home side in the final minute of the match, but it wouldn’t be enough to affect the result, with the Roosters clinging on to emerge with a gripping 28-22 victory from their Round 20 clash at ANZ Stadium.
Wests Tigers NYC side will look to keep their top eight hopes alive when they take on the Melbourne Storm next Friday night for their Round 21 clash at Leichhardt Oval.
Sydney Roosters 28 (Manu 2, Watson, S.Mitchell, Lussick tries; Momirovski 4/5 goals) def. Wests Tigers 22 (Marsters, Lodge, Marshall-King, Karwhin tries; Woods 3/4 goals)
